When I was working in corporate, I didn’t hear my own voice. I couldn’t feel my instincts.
I was so busy working 40, sometimes 60 hours a week, that I didn’t have the energy to ask the important questions:
- What am I doing?
- Why am I doing this?
- Is it worth the sacrifice?
I remember calling my partner from a hotel room in Moscow during a business trip, completely frozen with panic and anxiety.
My body had shut down from overworking and stress. It was terrifying, but it became the wake-up call I needed.
Sometimes, pain is what forces us to look for a better way.
When I climbed to the top of the corporate mountain, the view wasn’t what I expected. The promotions I’d worked so hard for came with a steep price:
- More imbalance.
- More “road warrior” living.
- More disconnection from the people I loved.
All I had to do was look at my older colleagues to see my future. And I didn’t want it.
I started questioning everything I thought I knew about success.
The narrative I’d inherited as the child of Malaysian immigrants to Canada was clear: Work twice as hard, sweat blood and tears, and you’ll be successful.
But when I did the math on my six-figure job, after taxes and dividing by the actual hours I worked, I realized I was making less than my assistant.
That was a huge wake-up call.
I’ve come to believe that the traditional path of hustle now, enjoy life later, is a story we’ve been sold that simply doesn’t work.
Life happens now.
Our parents age now.
Our health matters now.
The most valuable currency isn’t money. It’s time.
For me, freedom means being able to fly to Malaysia when my aging aunt needs me, without asking anyone’s permission or calculating PTO days.
It’s the ability to say “yes” to what matters most on a random Tuesday afternoon.
You can’t just lean on your career to define your identity. If you’re not careful, you’ll build another cage, this time disguised as a business.
So let me ask you:
- What’s enough money to live your ideal life?
- How can you design your work to create spaciousness, not just busyness?
- What would your business look like if it was built around your life, not the other way around?
When I redesigned my business around these questions, everything changed.
I stopped chasing “more” and started enjoying “enough.”
And surprisingly, as I simplified, my impact deepened. My work became more focused, more meaningful, and ultimately more valuable to the people I serve.
Whether you’re just starting your entrepreneurial journey or you’ve been at it for years, I invite you to pause and ask:
What does success on your own terms look like?
P.S. If you’re ready to create a business that honours your definition of success, I’ve designed two paths to help:
- Start Your Business: If you’re planning your escape from the 9-5 or in the early stages of your business, check out screwthecubicle.com/start.
- Simplify Your Business: If you have an established business that feels too complex, my Tiny Business Revolution coaching will help you streamline and realign with what truly matters: screwthecubicle.com/simplify.
